Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-06-05
REV. JOHN JASPER.
An IHrEnvIsw WITH THIS NOTED
coLoHEp DIVINE.
4 sketch Of His Life Interesting Points
About Richmond sixty
Years Ago.

There is no colcrcd preacher in the
world, perhaps, more widely known than
Rev. John Jsaper pastor OF the sixth
Mount Zion Baptist church, OF tins city.
This venerable man (who will be seventy.
Eve years old on the anniversary OF the
eouniry's independence next month) lives
in the bosom OF Jackson Ward. at ill2
north st. James street. Here IL was that
.The. Sun. Do Move" sermon, which gave
him such notoriciy, was evolved. Here he
sits Ia his room. on the second hoor, AID
studies his Bible and brushes the lilies away
with n cat.o'.nine-tailS, while seven OF his
portra,ts (one marked John Jasper, u. d.
look down from the walls OF his chamber,
and his wife busics herself with household
duties on the floor below.
THREE WIVES.
The old man has been married three
times. lie was born In Fluvtnna, ana
while In slayery in 1889 he first married.
He and his wife both belonged to tue
peachy estate. "After my ole mis,iss
died" says he, "all the estate was divided
M, and l was taken one way aud my vile
another" Ia 1874 he was again married.
During the war he welded his present
wife. Jasper has several children living
and some dead. He Is also grandfather
and great.grandfathtr.
HIS PASTORAL LIFE.
Parson Jasper says he has been preaching
since the FIRST sunday IN February, lS4O.
From tins time until the emancipation OF
the slaves he preached around In DIFFERENT
counties for the benefit 81 different people,
who wonld pay his owners for The lime
ne was away. After the war MS ursi
pastoral charge was In PETERSBURG. III
1867 be organized his presen. congrega
tiop. with nine members. and Tor a lag
time they worshipped 10 stable on Browns
island in the river. 4 bridge ran 10 the
island from Richmond 10 those days. They
afterwards secured house at the corner OF
Fourth and Cary streets. whence they re.
moved 10 the structure (Duval between -.
John and It. james,. which has been pulled
down only In the past few weeks 10 make
place for a new and larger one. In old
times this was the Duval. Street (whtte)
Presbyterian church building.
HOW HE WAS CONVERTED.
The divine was asked who converted
him
"God Almighty" he quickly answered.
al was eouvertfd lust like saul of Tarsus.
while The people were celebrating the 4th
of July. had an engagement that night
70 90 TO see some girls, when all OF sud-
den deep impression fell upon my soul.
had seen people die. and began to think
about that aud other serious things. |
went right out OF The Square and went
home and bundled myself up
"Wbat do you mean by bundled your
self up;"
"Weil. Imean left of my SUNDAY clothes
and put on my old clothes. When sunday
came put on The worse clothes had. In
bout two weeks God converted me and
anointed me with The Holy Ghost, and
made me the Moses Of my race, and said
shouldn't be succeeded IN my day, and !
should answer the infidel. The prophecy is
fulfilled. Moses led tn children OF Israel
forty years, and have led my people forty
eight years slready.
"Well otter rot converted wanted 10
Join the Church. When | went before ZEN
10 be Intercepted they asked me about my
conversion. told EN-. Then they asked
me !; could read the Bible. | told ZEN
no; | hadn't read the Bible. IL was old
man Robert sprlggs asked me that. Hs's
dead now. ! told him | hadn't read the
Bible because ] never had bad but seven
months education, and that | stole from
New York spelling book. ] cell IL steal
ing because slaves wasn't allowed TO learn.
Well. be asked me what | knew bout the
Spirit Of God; how aid j know bad IL?
| told 'em knew il cause felt il; that's
the way know 1t. Wen, after they got
through inteTrOgaing ne | joined the
Church and went right to preaching. and |
been preaching ever since. | didn't have
any education. but ! called on God for TN.
dtrstanding and Christian judgment, and
lie gave ii to me-"
No MANUSCRIPT.
"Do you ever write your sermOns?"
al never wrote sermon IN my life. Ny
gift is a spiritual git. and when ! preach !
am led on by the spirit OF God. Ny mind
flies through the Bible like fash OF light
ming. Sometime. II | had six tongues !
could use ZEN an al once. No trouble for
me TO get doctrine. The spirit Of God
brings me more doctrine than can speak.
/ couldn't speak n ON manuscript anyway
I'd forget II was on the Bible in front OF
ne. | haven't d, cided yet what texts
will preach from tomorrow"
"How many sermons do you preach
day;"
"Two now. Eve preached four day.
And Eve seen the time when [ could
a. preached sermon for every hour in the
day. NV voice used TO be % loud that you
could hear me from Shockoe Hill to Rock
cts"
GLOW long have you been living in
Richmond"
"Since 1872" answered the old preacher,
rs he looked up over his OctlgOn.shIpej
spectacles. al amt b,en living in this
house but fifteen years"
- g
things since You came here, haven'ttherc?"
ANCIENT RICHMOND.
ayes, sir. When first come here, there
wasn't over three brick houses between
Twenty. first street and Rockets. There
was some few sbanties on Main street.
The city was only laid off ss far as Adams
street. West Of that was nothing but
woods. Fourth street was the city limits.
At Second and Broad streets the old
Brackets tavern stood. Oulv Ia the past
forty.eight years has there been a street
from Church Hill TO Shockoe Hill.
just at Broad street and Jail alley
Broad street ended. Below was the gul.
ley and the creek. The Danyille depot
was a vacant lot. Bout dozen
houses were built in Manchester. Near
MayO's bridge vessels used 10 come no and
unload. Cary street was muddy country
Ioad-no houses on it at all. There
wasn't no railroads here then. Mayo's
bridge was the only one 'cross the river.
Trtnt's bridge had stood wsere the Free
bridge Is now, but II was washed away.
Everybody bad TO ply TO pence 10 go
across the bridge. II you didn't hay but
i've cents you couldn't CO."
ALARGE CONGREGATION.
"wtat's the membership OF your church
nowi" said che reporter, hauling the par
son In from the past 10 the present.
"Between ., 400 and $500. A new re.
gistration was begun some time ago. and
many members did not come up. Some
have since repented and ioioed, but good
many are out now"
THE FAMOUS SERMON.
sHow often have you preached your SER
mon on the rotation OF the sum-"
"Abopt 100 times. 4 first preached it in
1878. Since then bafe hal offers from all
over this country and from London, Paris,
and Other places TO 20 and preach II; but
refused 'em all, cause l dldn't think II
would be right TO leave nv people. One
man offered me 500 10 go TO London and
preach the sermon. lie even said he would
pay me the money first, and that wouldn't
have to walk step between here aud
Eurepe, and wouldn't have TO walk step
after got there